The Made-from-Scratch Life: Simple Ways to Create a Natural Home

Melissa has always been a easy to understand writer, and this book is not an exception. The recipe scattered throughout the book are useful and easy to follow. I would’ve liked if the recipes were collected at the end of the book, for ease of finding and using, but the book does have a handy index that provides a list of recipes. Her tips and tricks on how to follow the recipes, save money, as well as other things are very helpful.

I love this book and that it references scripture. This is definitely more than just a recipe book it is also encouragement for a simpler life style

Lots of good information in this book. Going to order her others soon.

All good

I received my book last week and read almost all of it the first day. It's the best book on the market if you want to start living a more basic lifestyle, I would give it ten stars if I could! For years I've been buying books and reading how to live a simpler lifestyle, but until this book I was overwhelmed, and felt as if I needed a small farm to implement the changes. The recipes are easy to follow and simple enough that my 8 year old grandson could make them. There is information about soil that is basic enough to understand. I love the Bible verses, and the wisdom and insight that Melissa has to how this lifestyle fits in with Gods plan for us, His creation. I also love the stories about Melissa and her family interspersed throughout the book, when I read this book I feel like I'm reading suggestions and ideas from a friend who really lives this lifestyle. There is nothing about this book that I don't love! I know this will be one of my best, and favorite, reference books in the months and years to come. Thank you Melissa for writing it! I would suggest this book to everyone who wants to live more simply.

So many delicious recipes! All accompanied by stories that make this such an interesting book to read-this is not just a how to make food cookbook-this is inspiring to read and it makes you want to cook more with the same sense of joy and purpose the Author does. Very much a recommended cookbook from my kitchen to yours!

I love watching her YouTube videos, and when I found out that she had written a few books I had to get them all. I now have all three at my disposal and you can bet I will be using the knowledge here to teach my family what they can do to be more self sufficient. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us all!

Tears and laughter. Ah-Ha and ohhhh. Melissa's book kept my attention with her personal triumphs, lessons learned the hard way, and advice for new or seasoned homesteaders. Better yet, she weaved her homesteading stories and advice in with her relationship with God.I highly recommend this book to new/recent homesteaders, people of Faith, and Faithful homesteaders. Your heart will be touched. Your ideas and vision of homesteading will be more open.I ordered extra copies for a couple of friends, since I will keep my copy for the wonderful recipes. :-)

I wasn't thrilled with the recipes and garden instructions, which sometimes use vague language that doesn't give me personally enough of an idea of what to do. If I hadn't bought it for Exactly that purpose, I would have rated it at least 4 stars because it is engagingly written and interesting. She clearly put a lot of love into this book and I wanted to finish reading it. But the vagueness drove me nuts and I couldn't hang in there.That said, I LOVE the reflections on faith and would have read a book written Just about faith by this author. So if you're kind of chill about whether or not you learn gardening or cooking or canning from this book, and have at least an open mind about faith if not a vibrant Christian life, then go for it! It is lovely.

The author uses own experience with the use of the products contained in the book. With some information that is not found in other books.

I didn’t realize this was a Jesus book.I am the opposite of a Christian.I couldn’t read it through. Most of what I did read I already know. This is a book for homesteaders. Lots about raising chickens and stuff like that. Not for this apartment dweller. Misleading title for sure, but I’ll give it to someone who could benefit from it, as long as they don’t mind the bible scriptures and god talk throughout the whole thing.

If you are not religious in any way you may get annoyed with how the author frequently mentions passages of Scripture. But if you are a Christian, as I am, you may enjoy this! Often it feels like a writer will twist Scripture to fit their message but I think Melissa did a good job of finding appropriate passages.She gives a lot of practical info for people who have little or no experience with various aspects of homesteading. I live in Ontario Canada so some of her advice is not very practical or useful for me, but the book was still interesting.

For those people who have a problem with religion you may find this preachy however I found it refreshing reads the stories of her past and her honest admiration in her religious beliefs. There is really good information in this book, and enjoyable to hold, the cover is soft as butter